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By Chris Harlan and Jason Mackey

Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013, 9:00 p.m.

Brett Brumbaugh did it all. Win a WPIAL title? Check. State title? Easily. Set the single-season WPIAL passing record? Yep.

Brumbaugh, a 6-foot-4 junior quarterback who holds NCAA Division I scholarship offers from Temple and Akron, completed 260 of 379 passes for 3,917 yards and 41 touchdowns. The PIAA Class AA player of the year will return as a senior needing just 1,164 yards to break Sto-Rox QB Lenny Williams' career passing record, a mark previously held by Brumbaugh's brother, Christian.

What did it feel like driving back from Hershey?

It's one of the best feelings in the world. Especially when we got off 79, and the police and the fire trucks escorted us back to the gym for a pep rally. I couldn't feel happier or more proud of the boys and everyone who supported us all year. We accomplished our goal.

What happened at the pep rally?

I don't know how many people were there, but it was pretty packed. The seniors all said a few words. We brought the trophy back. Everybody got pictures. Just a big celebration of all the hard work we've put in.

With the game being pushed back, what did you do all day Saturday?

I brought my Xbox, and a couple other kids were playing Xbox. We just hung out. We didn't want to be outside or go bowling or go to a movie. That extra day helped. It put us all together one last time and gave us that extra bond we needed.

An article predicted you'd lose 50-6. Motivation?

We knew nobody gave us a chance besides ourselves and our community. We just wanted to prove to everyone that we were the best team in the state and that we were there for a reason.

Did you get a hard time about your playoff “beard?”

I got a lot of grief from the players and some kids at school. It was pretty bad, but I couldn't mess with it. I just had to keep it and let it grow to the disgusting length it was.

How nice was it to have Justin Watson, Conner Beck and your other receivers?

There were a couple times where I would look back and say, ‘Wow, that could have really been picked.' But I have a lot of trust in them, and I know that they're going to make a play whenever I need them to.

Watson had said he could often tell how the game would go by your first throw. Could you tell?

Some games are different than others, but I can usually tell if it's going to be a good day because that first pass comes out so much nicer than everything else.

What piece of advice helped most?

At the beginning of the season, I kind of got off to a rough start. I was forcing some stuff. Coach (Andrew) DiDonato and Coach (Shane) Patterson pulled me aside one day before practice started and told me, ‘Don't worry about anything. Just play the game the way you know how to play, and good things will come. Scrap those first two games and worry about making the right plays. Good things are going to happen.'

— Jason Mackey

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 selections

TROY APKEWR/DB

Mt. Lebanon, senior, 6-2, 190

Penn State recruit had 40 catches, 728 yards and seven TDs and led team in tackles.

ALEX BOOKSEROL/DL

Mt. Lebanon, senior, 6-6, 295

Bookser, who committed to Pitt, anchored the Blue Devils' offensive and defensive lines.

BROCK BOXENOL/DL

Beaver Falls, senior, 6-4, 270

Boxen, an Akron recruit, led an offensive line that let the Tigers average 272.9 rushing yards.

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